Padding cover cloth for pressing machines and mechanism for the retention and automatic adjustment of said cover cloth



May 25, 1954 MCL GAN 2,679,339

PADDING COVER CLOTH FOR PRESSING MACHINES AND MECHANISM FOR THE RETENTION AND AUTOMATIC ADJUSTMENT OF SAID COVER CLOTH Filed NOV. 10, 1950 IN VEN TOR.

I RUSSELL c. MQLAGAN FIG, -7 BY ATTORNEYS Patented May 25, 1954 PADDING COVER CLOTH FOR PRESSING MACHINES AND MECHANISM FOR THE RE- TENTI ON AND AUTOMATIC ADJUSTMENT OF SAID COVER CLOTH Russell G. McLagan, Milford, Ohio, assignor to The American Laundry Machinery Company, Cincinnati, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application November 10, 1950, Serial No. 194,964

16 Claims. 1

This invention relates to pressing machines of the type having relatively movable pressing members. More particularly, the invention relates to improvements in the padding cover cloth and" the securing mechanism therefor with which the work-supporting pressing member or buck of such machine is provided.

The invention has for its primary object the provision of simple and improved mechanism by which the cover cloth for a padded pressing member can be easily, quickly and conveniently secured to and removed from such pressing member and by which the pressing area of said cover cloth is automatically maintained in a taut, wrinklefree condition, notwithstanding variations in the thickness of the underlying padding in and as the result of use of the pressing machine.

A further object of the pressing invention is the provision of a cover cloth securing mechanism which is so constructed and arranged that the cover cloth may be applied to and removed from the pressing member, even when said member is in a heated condition.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a padding cover cloth having simple and improved means for enabling it to be readily, easily and conveniently attached to and detached from the mechanism by which it is removably secured to the work-supporting pressing member or buck of a pressing machine, and which cover cloth, if desired, may be provided with additional means for use in efiectin its removable securement to the pressing member or buck and for covering and protecting the underlying padding.

Further objects of the present invention, and certain of its practical advantages, will be referred to in or will be evident from the following description of one embodiment of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. l is a side elevational view of a sleeve pressing machine, the sleeve-supporting pressing member or buck of which is provided with a padding cover cloth and with securing mechanism therefor in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the cover cloth and parts of the securing mechanism therefor;

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of the upper end portion of the sleeve-supporting member or buck of the pressing machine of Fig. 1, the cuff holder of said pressing member or buck, and the cover cloth fastening plate which underlies said cufi holder, being shown in spaced or detached relationship, the sleeve expandin wing of the pressure member or buck being omitted for simplicity of illustration;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal plan view, on the line 44 Of Fig. 3;

' Fig. 5 i a detail cross-sectional view, on the line 55 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the supporting base for the sleeve-supporting pressing member or buck, broken away to show the adjacent bo tom cross wall of said pressing member or buck; and

Fig. '7 is a detail cross-sectional view, on an enlarged scale, of a side edge portion of the padding cover cloth and the enclosed side edge parts of the securing mechanism for the cover cloth, the view being on the line 'l-l of Fig. 2.

Before the structure illustrated in the accompanying drawing is specifically described, it is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the structural details or the particular arrangement of parts here shown, as structures embodying the present invention may tak other forms. It also is to be understood that the terminology or phraseology herein used is for purposes of description and not of limitation, the scope of the present invention being denoted by the appendant claims.

For the disclosure of one embodiment of the present invention, there is here illustrated in Fig. 1 a sleeve pressing machine such as disclosed in and covered by my co-pending application for a Sleeve Press, application Serial No. 184,035, filed September 9, 1950, now Patent No. 2,629,522, dated February 24, 1953, and to which reference may be had, if desired. So far as description of such machine is here necessary or desirable, it need only be mentioned that said machine includes a frame It! and a sleeve-supporting pressing member or buck l I pivotally mounted for swinging movement into and out of pressing relationship with a pair of cooperating pressing members l2, the sleeve-supporting member or buck I I being shown in full lines, Fig. l, in its generally upright idle position, the position which it 00- cupies when a shirt sleeve is being arranged thereon or removed therefrom, and being shown in dotdash lines, Fig. 1, in the rearwardly inclined position which it occupies during the sleeve pressing operation.

As best shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the sleeve-supporting pressing member or buck H comprises a hollow metal body part I 4 having a pair of outwardly bowed or generally convex side walls [5 and IS, the rear longitudinal edges of which are here integrally united or jointed in contacting relationship and the front longitudinal edges of which are spaced apart. The metal body part [4 is thus of generally U-shape in cross section, with a longitudinally disposed mouth or passageway I! at the front thereof for the reception of a correspondingly disposed wing l8, bodily projectable by means under the control of the machine operator, varying distance forwardly through the mouth or passageway l! for sleeve expanding purposes.

As is usual in pressing machines of the type here illustrated, the metal body part H! of the present sleeve-supporting pressing member or buck l l is exteriorly provided with suitable compressible padding, such as -the padding here shown which comprises a relatively thick resilient inner layer 19 of matted material, somewhat similar to steel wool, and an outer layer20 coextensive with said inner layer and of relatively soft fabric material, such as flannel. The padding layers i3 and 20 have, of course, a width sufiicient to enable them to completely embrace the metal body part M and a length sufficient to enable them to extend from the upper end of such part to the lower end thereof. To preserve the relatively sharp edge portion at the rear of the sleeve-supporting pressing member or buck H, as provided by the-relatively sharp rear edge of the metal body part It, a V-shaped metal strip 21 may be interposed between the two padding layers along and in alignment with the rear edge of the metal body part [4, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5.

In the present embodiment of the invention, the side edge portions of the two padding layers lie alongside the outer surfaces of a pair of re silient metal strips 22, of spring steel or the like, the rear longitudinal edge portions of which are weldedor otherwise suitably secured to the outer surfaces of the side walls [5 and it of the metal body part |4,'substantially midway-of the front and rear edges of such'side walls. As best shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the front longitudinal edge portions of the resilient metal strips 22 not only are spaced from the front longitudinal edge portions of the body part side walls [5 and is but also,

project forwardly beyond such side walls, with the side edges of the padding layers terminating adjacent the front edges of the resilient metal strips, as shown in Figs. '4 and 5.

As is usual in'pressing machines of the character here illustrated, the padding i9, 25 is covered by an outer cloth, such as the cover'cloth 24, of a smooth-surfacedfabric, such as "canvas or the like. If desired, this cover cloth may hold a in place the underlying padding I9, 20, as in the present embodiment of the invention, with the result that the padding is removable upon the I removal of the cover cloth.

From the removable retention of the cover '60- cloth 24, the present improved mechanism is provided. In its here illustrated form, said mechanism comprises a pair of elongated side members 1 25 and 26 having their upper and lower ends detachably secured, respectively, to the top and bottom cros's walls 21 and 28 with which the metal body part I I is here integrally provided, and which side members 25 and 26 have associated therewith resilient means effective upon the side edge portions of the cover cloth a: in

a manner to cause the intervening or pressing area of the cover cloth to firmly engage the underlying padding 19, 20 'in a taut, wrinkle-free condition.

lnithe present embodiment of theinvention,

the side members 25 and 26 are of channel shape in cross section, as best shown in Fig. 7, and each such side member is provided at its lower end with a depending pin 29 for removable seating engagement in an aperture 30 in the bottom cross wall 23, the pins 29 being here shown as carried by small, lateral extensions 3! of the side members. As shown in Fig. 6, the cross wall 28 is located adjacent the junction of the lower end of the metal body part I 4 and the supporting base 32 therefor, and the two pin-receiving apertures 30 are located on opposite sides of a slot 33 provided in said cross wall for the reception of the sleeve expanding wing l8. At their upper ends, the channel-shaped'side members 25 and 26 are provided with upwardly projecting pins 34 (one on each side member) for removable seating engagement in notches 35 at the rear end of a slot 36 in the top cross wall 21, the notches 35 extending laterally in opposite directions from each other and then slightly forwardly to interlockingly retain the pins 34, as will hereinafter more fully appear.

Mounted in the channels of the channelshaped side members 25 and 26 are the resilient means, bowed leaf springs 31 as here shown,

of the cover cloth 24 for the releasable retention of said cover cloth and for'the automatic maintenance of its pressing area in a taut, wrinklefree condition over the underlying padding i9, 20. In the present embodiment of the invention, two leaf springs 31, each with two longitudinally spaced bowed portions 38, are arranged in end to end relationship in each side member, with the length of said leaf springs such that the two of them in each side member extend from substantially one end thereof to the other. Any suitable means may be utilized, of course, for the securement of the leaf springs 31 in the channels of the side members 25' and 2B, the means here shown consisting of blocks 39 spot-welded or otherwise suitably secured to the side walls of said side members and below which blocks the leaf springs ,gale confined, the blocks overlying the leaf springs between their bowed portions 38.

To enable the leaf springs 31 to be effective upon the side edge portions of the cover cloth 24,

for the releasable retention of the cover cloth and for the automatic maintenance of its pressing area in a taut, wrinkle-free condition over the underlying padding, the cover cloth is here provided along its side edges with pockets 4| for the reception of said leaf springs and the chan- ...nel-shaped side members in which they are as best shown in Fig. 7.

-28, with the leaf springs 31 mounted therein, are

first endwise inserted into the side pockets 4| of said cover-cloth, as in Fig. 2. As shown inthis view, in which-the cover cloth is in substantially the position which it occupies when in place $011 the pressing'member or buck I l, the length of the side members 25, 26 relative to the'height of the cover cloth 26 is such that the pins 29 and 34 of said side members respectively project from the pockets 41 of said cover cloth above and below the topand bottom edges of said cover cloth.

The bottom pins 29 of the two side members are now inserted into the apertures 39 of the bottom cross wall 28, and with the lower edge portion of the cover cloth thus secured in place, the upper pins 36 of the side members are passed rearwardly through the top wall slot 36, against the pressure eifect of the leaf springs 31 and also the resilient side strips 22, and into the notches 35, in which they are firmly but releasably held for the retention of the upper edge portion of the cover cloth. As best shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the cover cloth 24 extends around the U-shaped metal bod part M of the pressing member or buck, in overlying relationship relative to the padding l9, 2!: thereon, and has its side edge portions disposed within the hollow or chamber of such body part, being releasably held therein by the side members 25 and 26. As the result of the engagement of the rear end portions of the side wall bottom extensions 3! with the inner surfaces of the body part side walls l5, 16, as shown in Fig. 5, any tendency of the side members 25, 26 to turn within the cover cloth pockets M is effectively prevented, as will be readily understood.

Under the eifect of the leaf springs 37, the side edge portions of the cover cloth 24 are constantly urged in a rearward direction, with the result that at least that portion of the cover cloth which overlies the padding [9, 20 is maintained in a taut, wrinkle-fre condition, with any slack or looseness in such portion occurring as the result of temporary or permanent compression of the underlying padding being automatically taken up. The tendency of the front or free longitudinal edge portions of the resilient metal side strips 22 to move laterally in divergent directions also is effective upon the cover cloth to aid or supplement the leaf springs 37 in their take-up function, as will be readily understood.

Inasmuch as the upper pins 34 of the side members 25, 26 are seated in their notches 35 (particularly the second to be seated of such pins) against the resilient effect of the leaf springs 37 and the side strips 22, the use of a small tool, such as a screw driver or the like, may be necessary to push said pin or pins to their positions in such notches, positions in which they are interlockingly held by reason of the forward extension of such notches in the cross wall 27.

Preferably and as here shown, the cover cloth 24 is provided at its lower edge with a depending extension flap 42 (Fig. 2) to insure that the bottom edges of the padding l9, 2!! are completely covered and thereby protected, the extension flap 42 being, if desired, of a somewhat heavier fabric material than that of the main body of the cover cloth.

In the embodiment of the invention here illustrated, the cover cloth 2 3 is provided between its side pockets 4| with an upwardly projecting upper edge portion 34 which is hemmed or otherwise formed to provide a pocket 45 for a draw string 46, the tightening of which string enables the upper edge portion 44 of the cover cloth to be drawn inwardly to overlie the top cross wall 2'! of the metal body part It.

Removably mounted on said top cross wall 21, with its marginal edge portion seated upon and covering the inwardly drawn upper edge portion M of the cover cloth 24, is a metal plate or disc til, as shown in Fig. 3. For the removable mounting of said plate or disc, it is provided with a depending stud 48 having threaded engagement in an aperture 49 in a boss 4901. on the the present invention will be evident from the.

6,. cross wall 21, the cross wall also being provided with spaced marginal apertures '50 for the .reception of depending pins 5| carried by the plate or disc ll and which extend through the indrawn upper edge portion 44 of the cover cloth 24 for the firm retention of said cover cloth edge portion. The plate or disc 17 also is here provided with a depending projection 52 which extends into the cross wall slot 36, between the pinreceiving notches 35, and thus effectively prevents any possible escape of the pins 3d from said notches.

Removably mounted on the plate or disc 4'! is a suitable cuff holder 53, the plate or disc being provided with a threaded aperture (not shown) for the reception of the lower end of the cuff holder mounting screw E i (Fig. 3) and with an upstanding pin 55 for seating engagement in an aperture 56 in the bottom face of the cuff holder 53, As this cuff holder forms no part of the present invention, further description of it is here unnecessary.

From the foregoing description thereof, it will be evident that the cover cloth 2d and the retaining and take-up mechanism therefor are of simple, and inexpensive form, convenient to use, and highly satisfactory in use. The cover cloth can be applied and removed in an exceedingly short time and even while the metal body part of the sleeve supporting pressing member or buck is in a heated condition. As any looseness or slack in the pressing area of th cover cloth is instantly and automatically taken up, such pressing area is always maintained in a taut, wrinklefree condition, even though the thickness of the underlying padding is periodically reduced in use thereof.

To those skilled in the art to which the present invention relates, further features and advantages of padding cover cloths and retaining and take-up mechanism therefor which embody foregoing description of one such embodiment.

What I claim is:

1. In a pressing machine, a pressing member provided with compressible padding, a cover cloth for said padding, and mechanism for securing, in an automatically adjustable manner, said cover cloth over said compressible padding, said pressing member having a body portion of generally U-shape in cross section, with said body portion being thus provided with an elongated chamber, said mechanism comprising a pair of elongated substantially rigid elements, wall means associated with said pressing member adjacent the lower end of said chamber and in which wall means the lower ends of said elements are mounted, wall means associated with said pressing member adjacent the upper end of said chamber and in which Wall means the upper ends of said elements are mounted, said elements when their upper and lower ends are so mounted being located within the chamber of the U-shaped body portion of the pressing member, and resilient means carried by said elements and eifective upon opposed marginal edge portions of said cover cloth to thereby urge said marginal edge portions in a direction to cause the cover cloth to tautly overlie the compressible padding and to automatically take up any slackness in the cover cloth due to compression of the padding.

2. In a pressing machine, a pressing member provided with compressible padding, a cover cloth for said padding, and mechanism for se- 7, curinaiin an automatically adjustable manner, said cover cloth over said compressible padding, said pressing member having a body portion :of generally U-shape in cross-section, with said body portion being thus provided with an elongated chamber, said mechanism comprising a pair of elongated substantially rigid elements, wall means associated with said pressing member adjacent the lower end of said chamber and having apertures in which the lower ends of said elements are removably mounted, wall means associated with said pressing member adjacent the upper end of. said chamber and having notches. in which the upper ends of sail elements are mounted, said notches lying on opposite sides of a slot through which the upper ends of said elements are moved in mounting them in said notches, said elements when their upper and lower ends are so mounted being located within the chamber of the U-shaped body portion of the pressing member, and resilient means carried by said elements and effective upon opposed marginal edge portions of said cover cloth to thereby urge said marginal edge portions in a direction to cause the cover cloth to tautly overlie the compressible padding and to automatically take up any slackness in the cover cloth due to compression of the padding.

3. In a pressing machine, a pressing member provided with compressible padding, a cover cloth for said padding, and mechanism for the retention of said cover cloth in overlying association with said padding, said cover cloth being provided with pockets along opposed marginal edge portions thereof and said retaining mechanism comprising a pair of elongated substantially rigid elements, resilient means carried by each of said elements, said elements and the resilient means carried thereby being located in the pockets of said cover cloth, said elements being provided with portions projecting from the ends of said pockets, and means for securing said projecting portions in fixed positions relative to said pressing member, the resilient means in the cover cloth pockets being efiective upon the cover cloth to cause it to tautly overlie the compressible padding and to automatically take up any slackness in the cover cloth due to compression of the padding.

4. In a pressing machine, a pressing member provided with compressible padding, a cover cloth for said padding, and mechanism for the retention of said cover cloth in overlying association with said padding, said retaining mechanism comprising a pair of elongated substantially rigid elements and resilient means carried by each of said elements, said cover cloth being hemmed along opposed marginal edgepcrtions thereof to provide pockets for the reception of said elements and the resilient means carried thereby, said elements being provided with portions projecting from the ends of said pockets, and said retaining mechanism also comprising means for securing said projecting portions in fixed positions relative to said pressing member, the resilient means in the cover cloth pockets being effective upon the cover cloth to cause it to tautly overlie the compressible padding and to automatically take up any slackness in the cover cloth due to compression of the padding.

5. In a pressing machine, a pressing member provided with compressible padding, a cover cloth for said padding, and mechanism for the retention of said cover cloth in overlying association with said padding,csaid cover cloth being provided with pockets along the side marginal edge portions thereof and said retaining mechanism comprising a pair of elongated substantially rigid elements, resilient means carried by each of said elements, said elements and the resilient means carried thereby being located in the pockets of said cover cloth, said elements being provided with portions projecting from the ends of said pockets, and means for removably securing said projecting portions in fixed positions relative to said pressing member, the resilient means in the cover cloth pockets being effective upon the cover cloth to cause it to tautly overlie the compressible padding and to automatically take up any slackness in the cover cloth due to compression of the padding.

6. In a pressing machine, a pressing member provided with compressible padding, a cover cloth for said padding, and mechanism for the retention of said cover cloth in overlying association with said padding, said cover cloth bein provided with pockets along the side marginal edge portions thereof and said retaining mechanism comprising a pair of elongated substantially rigid elements, resilient means carried by each of said elements, said elements and the resilient means carried thereby being located in the pockets of said cover cloth, said elements being provided with portions projecting from the ends of said pockets, and means for securing said projecting portions in fixed positions relative to said pressing member, the resilient means in the cover cloth pockets being effective upon the cover cloth to urge it in a direction to cause it to tautly overlie the compressible padding and to automatically take up any slackness in the cover cloth due to compression of the padding, said cover cloth also being provided with a draw string along its upper marginal edge portion to enable such edge portion to be drawn inwardly onto the upper end of said pressing member.

7. In a pressing machine, a pressing member provided with compressible padding, a cover cloth for said padding, and mechanism for the retention of said cover cloth in overlying association with said padding, said retaining mechanism comprising a pair of elongated substantially rigid side elements and resilient means carried by each of said side elements, said cover cloth being hemmed along its side edge portions to provide side pockets for the reception of said side elements and the resilient means carried thereby, said side elements being provided with portions projecting from the ends of said cover cloth side pockets and said retaining mechanism also comprising means for securing the pr ing portions of said side elements in fixed positions relative to said pressing member, the resilient means carried by said side elements in the side pockets of said cover cloth being efiective upon said cover cloth to cause it to tautly overlie the compressible padding and to automatically take up any slackness in the cover cloth due to compression of the padding, said cover cloth also being hemmed along its upper edge portion to provide a pocket for a drawstring, and a drawstring in said pocket for drawing the upper edge portion of the cover cloth inwardly about the upper end portion of said pressing member.

8. Structure of the character described, comprising a pressing member having an elongated rigid body portion of generally U-shape in cross section, said body portion thus having a pair of side walls and a passageway into the hollow of said body portion, a pair of resilient strip members secured to the outer surfaces of said body portion side walls and having divergently disposed longitudinal edge portions adjacent the passageway into the hollow of said U-shaped body portion, compressible padding overlying the outer surfaces of said strip members and the intervening outer surface of said body portion, a cover cloth overlying said padding and having its side edge portions disposed within the hollow of said U-shaped body portion, elongated substantially rigid side elements mounted in the hollow of said body portion and resilient means carried by said side elements within said hollow and efiective upon the side edge portions of said cover cloth, with the aid of said resilient strip members, to not only maintain said cover cloth to tautly overlie the compressible padding but also to automatically take up any slackness in the cover cloth due to compression of the padding.

9. Structure of the character described, comprising a pressing member having a body portion of generally U shape in cross section, with said body portion being thus provided with an elongated chamber, compressible padding for said body portion, a cover cloth for said padding, and mechanism for the retention of the cover cloth in overlying association with said padding, said mechanism comprising a pair of elongated substantially rigid side elements, wal1 means associated with said pressing member adjacent the lower end of said chamber and in which wall means the lower ends of said elements are mounted, wall means associated with said pressing member adjacent the upper end of said chamber and in which wall means the upper ends of said elements are mounted, said elements when its upper and lower ends are so mounted bein located within the chamber of the U- shaped body portion of the pressing member, and

resilient means carried by said elements, said cover cloth being provided with pockets along its side edge portions for the reception of said side elements and the resilient means carried thereby, said resilient means being effective upon said side edge portions of said cover cloth to thereby urge said side edge portions in a direction to cause the cover cloth to tautly overlie the compressible padding and to automatically take up any slackness in the cover cloth due to compresr sion 01" the padding, and said cover cloth also being provided with a pocket along its upper edge for the reception of a drawstring to thereby enable the upper edge portion of said cover cloth to be drawn inwardly onto the wall means adjacent the upper end of the body portion chamber.

10. structure or the character described, comprising a pressing member having a body portion provided with side wall means and upper and lower wall means, compressible padding for said side wall means, a cover cloth for said compressible padding, elongated substantially rigid side elements having their end portions removably mounted in said upper and lower Wall means, resilient means carried by said side elements and effective upon the side edge portions of said cover cloth to automatically maintain said cover cloth in a taut condition overlying said compressible padding, parts of the upper edge portion of said cover cloth being adapted to overlie said upper wall means, and a cover plate member removably mounted on said upper wall means and effective to maintain the upper edge portion of the cover cloth in overlying relation on said upper wall means.

11. Structure of the character described, comprising a pressing member having a body portion provided with side wall means and upper and lower wall means, compressible padding for said side wall means, a cover cloth for said compressible padding, elongated substantially rigid side elements having their end portions removably mounted in said upper and lower wall means, resilient means carried. by said side elements and effective upon the side edge portions of said cover cloth to automatically maintain said cover cloth in a taut condition overlying said compressible padding, parts of the upper edge portion of said cover cloth being adapted to overlie said upper wall means, and a cover plate member removably mounted on said upper wall means and having cover cloth penetrating pins for the retention of the upper edge portion of the cover cloth in overlying relation on said upper wal1 means.

12. Structure of the character described, comprising a pressing member having a body portion provided with side wall means and. upper and lower wall means, compressible padding for said side wall means, a cover cloth for said compressible padding, a pair of elongated substantially rigid side elements having their end portions removably mounted in said upper and lower wall means, said upper wall means being provided with spaced notches in which the upper end portions of said side elements are removably mounted and said upper wall means also being provided with a passageway for such upper end portions which leads to and which is located between said notches, resilient means carried by said side elements and effective upon the side edge portions of said cover cloth to automatically maintain said cover cloth in a taught condition overlying said compressible padding, means for disposing the major part of the upper edge portion of the cover on the upper wall means of said body portion, and a cover plate member removably mounted on said upper wall means and thereby seated on that part of the upper edge portion of the cover cloth which is disposed on said wal1 means, said cover plate having a part extending into the passageway of said upper wall means to thereby confine the upper end portions of the side elements in the notches of said upper wall means.

13. In a pressing machine, a pressing member provided with compressible padding, a cover cloth for said padding, and mechanism for securing in an automatically adjustable manner, said cover cloth over said padding, said mechanism comprising a pair of elongated substantially rigid elements, spaced wall means with which said pressing member is provided, one of said wall means having apertures for the reception of one set of ends of said elements and the other wall means having a passageway for the other set of ends of said elements and also having notches on opposite sides of said passageway for the reception of said last mentioned set of ends of said elements with the consequent securement of said elements to said two wall means and resilient means carried by said elements and eifective upon opposed marginal edge portions of said cover cloth to thereby urge said marginal edge portions in a direction to cause the cover cloth to tautly overlie the compressible padding and to automatically take up any slackness in the cover cloth due to compression or the padding.

14. In a pressing machine, a pressing member the other wall means having a passageway for i the other set of ends of said elements and also having notches on opposite sides of said passageway for the reception of said last mentioned set of ends of said elements with the consequent securement of said elements to said two wall means and resilient means carried by said elements and effective upon opposed marginal edge portions of said cover cloth to thereby urge said marginal edge portions in a direction to cause the cover cloth to tautly overlie the compressible padding and to automatically take up any slackness in the cover cloth due to compression of 'the padding, said resilient means also being effective to maintain the last mentioned set of ends of said elements in the notches of said wall means.

15. In a pressing machine, a pressing member provided with compressible padding, a cover cloth for said padding, and mechanism for the retention of said cover cloth in overlying association with said padding, said cover cloth being provided with pockets along opposed marginal edge portions thereof and said retaining mechanism comprising a pair of elongated substantially rigid elements, resilient means carried by each of said elements, said elements and the resilient means carried thereby. being located in the pockets of said cover cloth, said elements being provided with portions projecting from said pockets, and means for securing 12 said projecting portions in fixed positions relative to said pressing member, the resilient means in the cover cloth pockets being effective upon the cover cloth to cause it to tautly overlie the compressible padding and to automatically take up any slackness in the cover cloth due to compression of the padding.

16. In a pressing machine, a pressing member provided with compressible padding, a cover cloth for said padding, and mechanism for the retention of said cover cloth in overlying association with said padding, said cover cloth being provided with pockets along opposed marginal edge portions thereof and said retaining mechanism comprising a pair of elongated substantially rigid elements, resilient means carried by each of said elements, said elements and resilient means carried thereby being located in the pockets of said cover cloth, and means having portions connecting said elements to said pressing member in fixed positions relative to said pressing member, the resilient means in the cover cloth pockets being effective upon the cover cloth to cause it to tautly overlie the compressible padding and to automatically take up any slackness in the cover cloth due to compression of the padding.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,133,145 Johnson Mar. 23, 1915 1,664,916 Colclaugh Apr. 2, 1928 1,339,553 Heighes Jan. 5, 1932 1,885,737 Lewis Nov. 1, 1932 2,328,229 Pearson Aug. 31, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 9398 Great Britain May 10, 1893 

